[cobirds] Barr Lake State Park Eagles, Eagls everywhere, plues a Rusty Black bird, Adams County

[Brian Johnson]

I have been continuing the ebird  challenge of a complete checklist a day 
challenge. Today I hit 1500 days.
So with such a milestone I headed out to Barr Lake today. It was a cold day 
at around 10 with a windchill bellow that, but I was bundled up and 
carrying around 20 ponds of gear (scope, tripod, big camera plus the 
backpack with water and food) so I didn't notice that much except when I as 
the gazebo scopeing the lake, then I did.
Highlights of course were the Bald Eagles, I got 50 in total, braking 
ebird's filter. That could be an over count, it could be a under cont. They 
were flying around enough to make it hard. One of the best parts of so many 
eagles was they were vocalizing a lot, it was fun to listen to that awesome 
call.
Along with the eagles there was two hug rafts of Redheads and Ring-billed 
ducks with some Scaups, both Lesser and Greater, along with some 
Canvasbacks. Then there was that hug raft of Mallards near the gazebo along 
with more Northern Pintails, around 120, then I have seen together. There 
was also three American White Pelicans that over wintered.
After leaving the gazebo I walked further past the 2.5 mile marker and 
crossed over the inflow canal where I found a hug flock of Red-winged 
Blackirds. After picking over that mob, about 120, I found a young Rusty 
Blackbird in the flock.
Another highlight was a dark morph Rough-legged Hawk.
Good birding,
Brian Johnson,
Englewood CO

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[cobirds] Joe Roller Memorial Green Big Year update and January wrap up

[Scott Somershoe]

All,
January is over and I'm one month (and well, now another week) into my
Green Big Year to support the Joe Roller Memorial Grant. What a crazy
January and some crazier birds. Thank you to everyone who has donated or
pledged per species. This is amazing!

I finally updated my blog with a post including some insights into my
strategy for the green year, a little January wrap up, and stories about a
big ride on 29 January when I got all 3 rosy-finches and more! I hope you
enjoy the birding stories and the nerdiness of my planning! I'll update
soon about trips this past week (the wind!!) where I missed every bird, but
I randomly found my first Mourning Dove of the year!  Take what you can get
right? :)

Blog:
https://jrmemorialgreenbigyear.blogspot.com/
Scroll to the bottom to see my species total, miles ridden, and link to my
2021 green species list.

To pledge or donate (scroll to the bottom at the link).
https://cobirds.org/CFO/Grants/

Thank you!
Scott Somershoe

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Re: [cobirds] Re: Chico Basin Ranch upcoming vote - El Paso/Pueblo Counties

[linda hodges]

If I may, I'd like to remind birders that it has already been determined
that* the ranch will not be sold* thanks to all of your prior comments.
(That vote was held in August 2020). My apologies for not making that clear.

On Wednesday, the board will be voting on whether to divide the ranch into
two separately-leased parcels, or to leave it as one 87,000-acre property.
I am not sure if a decision regarding negotiate with the current lessee,
the Phillips family, or putting it out to bid will be made at this meeting.

Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions or
concerns.

Linda

*Linda Hodges*
*Conservation Chair*

*Aiken Audubon*



On Mon, Feb 8, 2021 at 10:44 AM John Malenich 
wrote:

> Just a quick reminder that comments on Chico Basin Ranch must be submitted
> by *Noon Tomorrow (Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021) *through the link below:
>
>
> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdHLoANsTkJyomSRsPJm5aNH5EA-2sA8h7RlM8Df_ESURzjSQ/viewform
>
> John Malenich
> Boulder, CO
>
> On Friday, February 5, 2021 at 2:30:20 PM UTC-7 gilg...@gmail.com wrote:
>
>> Denver Post had an article today about Chico Basin pending sale.
>>
>> https://www.denverpost.com/2021/02/05/chico-basin-bird-watching-state-land-board/
>>
>> -- Ghislaine Griswold
>> On Thursday, February 4, 2021 at 3:13:19 PM UTC-7 BCO gal wrote:
>>
>>> Thank you Linda for posting this, I just sent in my comments.
>>>
>>> And I want to boost this post since, as she noted below the deadline for
>>> comments must be received by *noon, next Tuesday*. Please take a few
>>> minutes to support Aiken Audubon's efforts to keep this gem, Chico Basin,
>>> intact.
>>>
>>> Heck, one my highest ever bird counts was at Chico. Let's do our part to
>>> keep this critical property intact!
>>>
>>> Linda Lee
>>> Louisville
>>>
>>> On Monday, February 1, 2021 at 6:04:31 PM UTC-7 hiker...@gmail.com
>>> wrote:
>>>
 Friends of Chico Basin Ranch,

 Thank you for your support these past months.

 You may be aware that the vote determining whether Chico will be kept
 intact or divided is soon approaching. On *Weds, Feb 10th, the State
 Land Board commissioners will vote* on whether to keep the
 ~87,000-acre ranch in one piece, or lease it out as two parcels, one of
 ~21,000 acres and another of ~66,000 acres.

 Aiken Audubon supports keeping it intact. A few of our reasons:

 ·  Chico is a major migratory bird pathway, with at least 346 birds
 recorded.

 ·  The ranch has very high conservation values and biodiversity.
 Dividing the ranch would add roads, corrals, fencing and traffic, diluting
 those values and likely causing habitat fragmentation.

 ·   A property of this size with high-quality shortgrass prairie is
 rare. With shortgrass prairie and grassland birds vanishing rapidly, this
 type of landscape is greatly needed.

 ·   Once broken up, the land is difficult to piece back together.

 In addition, we believe that conservation values and financial gain can
 be balanced.

 The Phillips family (lessee) has openly allowed access to birders, and
 has been an outstanding land steward. We’d welcome the opportunity to
 continue that relationship.

 We urge you to make your voice heard this one last time. *Comments
 must be received by noon on Tuesday, Feb 9th.* You may send comments
 via this link:


 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdHLoANsTkJyomSRsPJm5aNH5EA-2sA8h7RlM8Df_ESURzjSQ/viewform

  or mail them to the CO State Land Board Commissioners, 1127 Sherman
 St, Denver, CO 80203.

 Our sincere gratitude for the effort you’ve given to protect this
 remarkable property,

 *Linda Hodges*

 *Conservation Chair*

 *Aiken Audubon*

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> .
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[cobirds] Re: Chico Basin Ranch upcoming vote - El Paso/Pueblo Counties

[John Malenich]

Just a quick reminder that comments on Chico Basin Ranch must be submitted 
by *Noon Tomorrow (Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021) *through the link below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdHLoANsTkJyomSRsPJm5aNH5EA-2sA8h7RlM8Df_ESURzjSQ/viewform

John Malenich
Boulder, CO 

On Friday, February 5, 2021 at 2:30:20 PM UTC-7 gilg...@gmail.com wrote:

> Denver Post had an article today about Chico Basin pending sale.
>
> https://www.denverpost.com/2021/02/05/chico-basin-bird-watching-state-land-board/
>
> -- Ghislaine Griswold
> On Thursday, February 4, 2021 at 3:13:19 PM UTC-7 BCO gal wrote:
>
>> Thank you Linda for posting this, I just sent in my comments. 
>>
>> And I want to boost this post since, as she noted below the deadline for 
>> comments must be received by *noon, next Tuesday*. Please take a few 
>> minutes to support Aiken Audubon's efforts to keep this gem, Chico Basin, 
>> intact. 
>>
>> Heck, one my highest ever bird counts was at Chico. Let's do our part to 
>> keep this critical property intact!
>>
>> Linda Lee
>> Louisville
>>
>> On Monday, February 1, 2021 at 6:04:31 PM UTC-7 hiker...@gmail.com wrote:
>>
>>> Friends of Chico Basin Ranch,
>>>
>>> Thank you for your support these past months.
>>>
>>> You may be aware that the vote determining whether Chico will be kept 
>>> intact or divided is soon approaching. On *Weds, Feb 10th, the State 
>>> Land Board commissioners will vote* on whether to keep the ~87,000-acre 
>>> ranch in one piece, or lease it out as two parcels, one of ~21,000 acres 
>>> and another of ~66,000 acres.
>>>
>>> Aiken Audubon supports keeping it intact. A few of our reasons:
>>>
>>> ·  Chico is a major migratory bird pathway, with at least 346 birds 
>>> recorded.
>>>
>>> ·  The ranch has very high conservation values and biodiversity. 
>>> Dividing the ranch would add roads, corrals, fencing and traffic, diluting 
>>> those values and likely causing habitat fragmentation.
>>>
>>> ·   A property of this size with high-quality shortgrass prairie is 
>>> rare. With shortgrass prairie and grassland birds vanishing rapidly, this 
>>> type of landscape is greatly needed.
>>>
>>> ·   Once broken up, the land is difficult to piece back together. 
>>>
>>> In addition, we believe that conservation values and financial gain can 
>>> be balanced.
>>>
>>> The Phillips family (lessee) has openly allowed access to birders, and 
>>> has been an outstanding land steward. We’d welcome the opportunity to 
>>> continue that relationship.
>>>
>>> We urge you to make your voice heard this one last time. *Comments must 
>>> be received by noon on Tuesday, Feb 9th.* You may send comments via 
>>> this link: 
>>>
>>>
>>> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdHLoANsTkJyomSRsPJm5aNH5EA-2sA8h7RlM8Df_ESURzjSQ/viewform
>>>
>>>  or mail them to the CO State Land Board Commissioners, 1127 Sherman St, 
>>> Denver, CO 80203.
>>>
>>> Our sincere gratitude for the effort you’ve given to protect this 
>>> remarkable property,
>>>
>>> *Linda Hodges*
>>>
>>> *Conservation Chair*
>>>
>>> *Aiken Audubon*
>>>
>>

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